Bullet mold with pivotally mounted central mold portion

ABSTRACT

A pair of outer mold portions are mounted for relative arcuate pivoting movement, about a pivot center, into and out of closed molding position. The outer mold portions are provided with female cavity portions. An inner mold portion is disposed between the outer mold portions and mounted for arcuate pivoting movement about the same pivot center. In one embodiment, as where hollow bullet portions are desired, the inner mold portion comprises a male core which cooperates with the said female cavity portions. In another embodiment, the inner mold portion comprises a member providing a pair of female cavity portions which register with the cavity portions in the outer mold portions to provide casting of two bullets at one time. In both embodiments, two or more bullets can be cast by using appropriate multi-cavity structures. In all embodiments, a Z-shaped holder for the inner mold portion has a web with end edges which automatically engage the side walls of the respective outer mold portions to provide an automatic stop for centering the inner mold portion when the mold is opened.

United States Patent 1 Lee [451 July 31,1973

1 1 BULLET MOLD WITH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED CENTRAL MOLD PORTION Richard J.Lee, R. R. 2, Hartford, Wis. 53027 221 Filed: Dec. 29, 1971 211 App].No.: 213,635

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.168,569, Aug. 3,

[76] Inventor:

[52] 11.8. C1. 249/170 [51] Int. Cl 1341b 11/54 [58] Field of Search249/161, 165, 102, 249/108, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 173; 164/264 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 936,475 10/1909 Putney 249/171 X170,975 12/1875 Wetmore... 249/171 X 904,273 11/1908 Mundt 249/161 X354,422 12/1886 Jewett 249/170 X 705,146 7/1902 Richter 249/ 1701,083,841 l/19l4 Leblanc 249/171 X 1,184,937 5/1916 Fargo 249/102 X1,431,164 10/1922 Kukac.... 249/170 1,544,778 7/1925 Schultz 249/170 X1,608,333 11/1926 Millican 249/170 X 1,763,977 6/1930 McNeely 249/161 XPrimary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant ExaminerJohn S. BrownAttorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [57] ABSTRACT A pair of outermold portions are mounted for relative arcuate pivoting movement, abouta pivot center, into and out of closed molding position. The outer moldportions are provided with female cavity portions. An inner mold portionis disposed between the outer mold portions and mounted for arcuatepivoting movement about the same pivot center. in one embodiment, aswhere hollow bullet portions are desired, the inner mold portioncomprises a male core which cooperates with the said female cavityportions. in another embodiment, the inner mold portion comprises amember providing a pair of female cavity portions which register withthe cavity portions in the outer mold portions to provide casting of twobullets at one time. in both embodiments, two or more bullets can becast by using appropriate multi-cavity structures. in all embodiments,at Z-shaped holder for the inner mold portion has a web with end edgeswhich automatically engage the side walls of the respective outer moldportions to provide an automatic stop for centering the inner moldportion when the mold is opened.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures BULLET MOLD WITII PIVOTALLY MOUNTED CENTRALMOLD PORTION BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This application isa continuation-in-part of my eopending application Ser. No. 168,569,filed Aug. 3, I97] and entitled Bullet Mold."

This invention relates to a bullet mold having a pivotally mountedcentral mold portion.

In hand casting of bullets utilizing a pair of pivotally mounted moldportions, it is sometimes desirable to cast bullets which have a hollowbase or point. It is also sometimes desirable to increase the number ofbullets cast at one time. Previous attempts to accomplish theseobjectives have led to the use of separate tools and/or complicatedapparatus, which was undesirable.

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of outer mold portionsare mounted for relative arcuate pivoting movement, about a pivotcenter, into and out of closed molding position. The outer mold portionsare provided with female cavity portions. An inner mold portion isdisposed between the outer mold portions and mounted for arcuatepivoting movement about the same pivot center. In one embodiment, aswhere hollow bullet portions are desired, the inner mold portioncomprises a male core which cooperates with the said female cavityportions. In another embodiment, the inner mold portion comprises amember providing a pair of female cavity portions which register withthe cavity portions in the outer mold portions to provide casting of twobullets at one time. In both embodiments, two or more bullets can becast by using appropriate multi-cavity structures. In all embodiments, aZ-shaped holder for the inner mold portion has a web with end edgeswhich automatically engage the sidewalls of the respective outer moldportions to provide an automatic stop for centering the inner moldportion when the mold is opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate thebest mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out theinvention.

In' the drawings:

FIG. I is a bottom plan view of a first embodiment of the bullet mold,showing the mold closed;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I with the mold open;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the closed mold;

FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the bullet mold,with the moldopen;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the bullet mold, withthe mold closed;

FIG. 7 is a view'similar to FIG. 6, with the mold open;

FIG. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of thebullet mold, withthe mold closed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1-4 of thedrawings, the hand bullet mold of the invention comprises a scissor-likeclamping handle 1 pivoted at pivot center 2 and having a pair of clamparms 3. Arms 3 pivot about center 2 on the other-side thereof fromhandle 1, and are adapted to centrally hold a pair of complimentaryopposed outer mold portions 4, 5 for pivoting movement, about center 2,into and out of molding position.

Mold portions 4, 5 are centrally secured to arms 3, as by screws 6, andmay be constructed similarly to those disclosed in my aforementionedco-pending application Ser. No. l68,569. The inner face of each outerbullet mold portion 4, 5 is provided with a longitudinal semi-circularfemale cavity portion 7, 8 which cooperates with the opposite portion toform one or more complete cavities when the mold is closed.

In accordance with the invention, an inner mold portion is looselymounted for pivotal movement about pivot center 2 and is adapted tocooperate with outer mold portions 4, 5 to define at least one moldcavity. For this purpose, a mold holder 9 of generally Z-shaped sectionis provided which includes outer and inner generally planular flanges10, 11 joined by a perpendicular web 12. Holder 9 is disposed at thebottom ofthe mold, with flange 10 mounted to pivot center 2 and flange11 extending to at least proximate, and as herein shown, beneath andbetween outer mold portions 4, 5. Holder 9 is narrower at all pointsthan clamp arms 3, whether the latter are closed or open, so that thereare no protrusions for spilled molten metal to fall onto.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, holder 9 provides a supporting mount foran inner mold portion 13 which is constructed and disposed to cooperatewith outer mold portions 4, 5 for casting of bullets with hollowportions. For this purpose, cavities 7, 8 extend through the bottoms ofouter mold portions 4, 5 and mold portion 13 comprises a core pin whichextends upwardly from flange 11 into the mold. Mold portion 13 includesa pair of outwardly facing semi-circular male surface portions 14, 15which, when the mold is closed, as in FIG. 4, spacingly register withthe respective female cavity portions 7, 8 to provide a hollow bulletportion when suitable molten metal is poured into the cavity through anupper sprue plate 16. Portions 7, 8, l4 and 15 are all on an arc of thesame radius which bisects them. When the mold is opened, outer moldportions 4, 5 will move away from inner mold portion 13, with a lostmotion action, a distance sufficient to permit the bullet to drop out.When the mold is wide open, as shown in FIG. 2, mold portion 13 will beautomatically centered between mold portions 4, 5. As best shown in FIG.2, the automatic centering is provided by engagement of both end edgesof web 12 with the outer side walls of the respective outer moldportions 4 and 5, thereby forming cooperative stop means. See also FIG.3.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment wherein multiple bullets with hollow portionsmay be molded. For this purpose, outer mold portions 4a, 5a include twosets of female cavity portions 7a and b, 8a and b. In addition, flangeIla is elongated and mounts two spaced inner mold portions 13a and b.The function is substantially the same as in the first embodiment.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8, holder 9 provides a supporting mount foran inner mold portion 17 which is constructed and disposed to cooperatewith outer mold portions 4, 5 for casting of multiple solid bullets. Forthis purpose, mold portion 17 is similar to portions 4, 5 and isprovided with a pair of outwardly facing female cavity portions 18, I9which, when the mold is closed, register with respective cavity portions7, 8 to form a pair of complete mold cavities.

Once again, additional complete cavities may be formed. As shown in theembodiment of FIG. 9, block 17a may include a pair of female cavities oneach. face,

as per 18a and b, 19a and b, and which register with multiple cavities7c and d, 80 and d in outer mold portions 4a and 5a.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 6-9, the cavities of the outer and innermold portions terminate above the bottom of the mold. Furthermore, andin the embodiments of FIGS. 6-9 especially, holder 9 and inner moldportion 17 may be a unitary integral piece.

In addition, in all embodiments, all mold portions move on an arc of aradius whose center is pivot center 2, when the mold is opened andclosed, and the abovedescribed cooperative stop means are utilized.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a bullet mold:

a. a device having handle means and clamping members joined forarcuately pivoting about a pivot center,

b. a pair of complimentary opposed outer mold portions mounted to saidclamping members and movable thereby between open and molding positions,

c. each of said outer mold portions having outer side walls and alongitudinally extending semi-circular inwardly facing female cavityportion,

(1. holder means pivotally mounted at said pivot center and extending toat least proximate said outer mold portions, said holder meanscomprising:

1. a member generally Z-shaped in section and including inner and outerflanges joined by a web having end edges,

2. said outer flange being mounted to said pivot center and said innerflange extending beneath said outer mold portions,

e. an inner mold portion on said holder means for cooperating with saidouter mold portions when the mold is closed to define at least one moldcavity,

f. said outer and inner mold portions all being mounted to move on anarc of a radius whose center is said pivot center when the mold isopened and closed,

g. and stop means formed by cooperative engagement of both end edges ofsaid web and the outer side walls of said respective outer mold portionswhen the mold is open to automatically center said inner mold portionbetween said outer mold portions.

2. The mold of claim 1: wherein said inner mold portion includes a pairof outwardly facing female cavity portions which, when the mold isclosed, register respectively with said first-named female cavityportions on said outer mold portions to form a pair of complete moldcavities.

3. The mold of claim 2:

a. wherein each outer mold portion includes a plurality of inwardlyfacing female cavity portions,

b. and wherein each face of said inner mold portion includes a pluralityof outwardly facing female cavity portions.

1. In a bullet mold: a. a device having handle means and clampingmembers joined for arcuately pivoting about a pivot center, b. a pair ofcomplimentary opposed outer mold portions mounted to said clampingmembers and movable thereby between open and molding positions, c. eachof said outer mold portions having outer side walls and a longitudinallyextending semi-circular inwardly facing female cavity portion, d. holdermeans pivotally mounted at said pivot center and extending to at leastproximate said outer mold portions, said holder means comprising:
 1. amember generally Z-shaped in section and including inner and outerflanges joined by a web having end edges,
 2. said outer flange beingmounted to said pivot center and said inner flange extending beneathsaid outer mold portions, e. an inner mold portion on said holder meansfor cooperating with said outer mold portions when the mold is closed todefine at least one mold cavity, f. said outer and inner mold portionsall being mounted to move on an arc of a radius whose center is saidpivot center when the mold is opened and closed, g. and stop meansformed by cooperative engagement of both end edges of said web and theouter side walls of said respective outer mold portions when the mold isopen to automatically center said inner mold portion between said outermold portions.
 2. The mold of claim 1: wherein said inner mold portionincludes a pair of outwardly facing female cavity portions which, whenthe mold is closed, register respectively with said first-named femalecavity portions on said outer mold portions to form a pair of completemold cavities.
 2. said outer flange being mounted to said pivot centerand said inner flange extending beneath said outer mold portions, e. aninner mold portion on said holder means for cooperating with said outermold portions when the mold is closed to define at least one moldcavity, f. said outer and inner mold portions all being mounted to moveon an arc of a radius whose center is said pivot center when the mold isopened and closed, g. and stop means formed by cooperative engagement ofboth end edges of said web and the outer side walls of said respectiveouter mold portions when the mold is open to automatically center saidinner mold portion between said outer mold portions.
 3. The mold ofclaim 2: a. wherein each outer mold portion includes a plurality ofinwardly facing female cavity portions, b. and wherein each face of saidinner mold portion includes a plurality of outwardly facing femalecavity portions.